Lee M. Hollander (1880–1972)

This was a wonderful accessible translation. It could benefit from a diagram of family lines since 80% of the men named in the saga are called Harold. That's a bit confusing but Hollander did a great job keeping things clear.

The Saga of the Jómsvíkings is a tale of viking daring-do on the high seas of Denmark and Norway. There are lots of feuds, raids, and bride-taking, just what everyone wants in a saga of adventure like this. The Jomsvikings were a legendary band of Vikings based on an island at the mouth of the Oder river near what is now the German/Polish border but was then the land of the Slavic Wends. We learn a lot about the family history of the important band members in the lead up to the main show more action, the Battle of Hjörungavágr off the coast of what is now Norway in which the Norwegians fought off a Jomsviking-led Danish force. The introduction to my edition by the translator was extremely useful in setting the reader up to understand and enjoy the text, and I highly recommend it to anyone with an interest in sagas, Vikings, or the Dark Ages. show less

The story, perhaps historical ,about the rise of Swein Forkbeard, and the Earl Haakon of Lade. There's some tough guy humour, as well. This saga was written about 1200 CE.

My edition, Univ. Texas Press, 1955 (LC 54-7338)